Prospect Sierra School

Name

Prospect Sierra School

Legal name

Prospect Sierra School

Website

https://prospectsierra.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

El Cerrito

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition charges for TK-8 education. Tuition ranges from $29,970 (TK) to $57,850 (TLC program) for 2026-27 school year. Total revenues of $19,297,569 in 2024-25 with tuition comprising approximately $16.3 million.
2. Extended Program and Transportation: Before/after school childcare and transportation services generating additional revenue. Revenues of $728,532 in 2024-25.
3. Philanthropy and Contributions: Annual Fund donations, capital campaigns, endowment contributions, and event fundraising. $276,315 raised in Annual Fund 2024-25, with total fundraising of $1,962,025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Prospect Sierra School is an independent, nonprofit TK-8 school operating on two campuses in El Cerrito, California, providing rigorous academics integrated with social-emotional learning, equity education, and changemaking. Core offerings include Transitional Kindergarten, Elementary School (K-4), and Middle School (5-8), supported by The Learning Center for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences, an Extended Program for before/after-school care, a Summer Program, Panther Athletics, and the Prospect Sierra Institute for educator professional development.

Product overview

Prospect Sierra School is a nationally recognized independent TK-8 school on two campuses in El Cerrito, CA, offering a unified educational program that integrates rigorous academics with social-emotional learning. The core product portfolio includes Transitional Kindergarten, Elementary School (K-4) at Tapscott campus, and Middle School (5-8) at Avis campus, all built on a foundation of intellectual engagement, self-knowledge, and care for others. Supporting the core programs are specialized offerings: The Learning Center (TLC) for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences; the Extended Program for before/after-school care; Summer Program for six weeks of camps; and Panther Athletics for grades 6-8. The school also operates Prospect Sierra Institute for educator professional development. Financial accessibility is enabled through Flexible Tuition (16% of budget), TCEI full scholarships for K-8, and EAP full scholarships for middle school. The school enrolls 470 students across both campuses with a 9:1 student-teacher ratio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Learning Center (TLC): A specialized program for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences, serving grades 5-6.
• Prospect Sierra Institute (PSI)

Products and services

• Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Full-day program for 4- to 5-year-olds on the Tapscott campus emphasizing empathy, pre-academic skills, and social-emotional learning with 16 students and two dedicated teachers. Tuition is $29,970 for the 2026-27 school year.
• Elementary School (K-4) Kindergarten through 4th grade program on the Tapscott campus featuring an integrated curriculum, maker space, science lab, art, music, library, and daily outdoor learning. Tuition is $37,900 per year for 2026-27.
• Middle School (5-8) Project-based middle school program on the Avis campus integrating math, literature, writing, art, drama, music, science, world languages, social studies, service learning, PE, and computer technology. Tuition is $42,850 per year for 2026-27.
• The Learning Center (TLC) Specialized program for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences in grades 5-6, offering small-group Orton-Gillingham instruction while maintaining full participation in the broader school community. Total cost $57,850 for 2026-27 ($42,850 base tuition + $15,000 TLC fee).
• Extended Program Before- and after-school childcare from 7:30 AM to 6 PM offering enrichment activities including robotics, ceramics, karate, jewelry making, chess, coding, and Zimbabwean ensemble. Annual unlimited plan is $3,600 for 2024-25, with prepaid hourly drop-in options also available.
• Summer Program Six-week summer camp for rising K-8 students featuring themed academic camps (math using Stanford Youcubed curriculum, filmmaking, Spanish cooking) and athletics. Tapscott camps priced at $500/week and Avis camps at $400/week.
• Panther Athletics Interscholastic sports program for grades 6-8 including cross country, flag football, basketball, track and field, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee, with all-gender teams and equal playing time emphasis.
• Prospect Sierra Institute Workshop series for external educators focusing on equity in progressive education and innovative approaches to lifelong learning, including Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator Training ($750) and m·sense numeracy professional development ($850).
• Flexible Tuition Program Need-based tuition assistance program dedicating 16% of the operating budget ($3.6M) to making education accessible, with current families paying between $2,500 and $42,850 for 2026-27. More than one in three students participate.
• The Children's Education Initiative (TCEI) Scholarship partnership fully funding two kindergarten families for their complete K-8 journey including tuition, after-school care, lunch, transportation, and all fees, with no annual reapplication required.
• Equity Action Program (EAP) Full-tuition scholarship program for middle school applicants in grades 6-8 covering tuition, extended care, lunch, transportation, learning support, and all fees, with no annual reapplication required.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive support including learning specialists, counselors, Dean of Students, advisory programs, buddy programs, library services, life skills curriculum, and social-emotional support for TK-8 students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nationally recognized by NAIS as one of only 7 model schools worldwide for future-centric curricular issues
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Café Ohlone (Vincent Medina and Louis Treviño)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with Café Ohlone founders Vincent Medina and Louis Treviño to transform the Avis upper hillside into a space centered on Indigenous knowledge, ecological stewardship, and the deep history of the land. Students will have access to a living classroom where Indigenous culture, community, and the natural world are meaningfully intertwined.
• The Black NeighborhoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership established in 2020 with The Black Neighborhood, founded by Prospect Sierra alum. The organization focuses on celebrating and supporting Black communities, and Prospect Sierra's Black Alumni Council works in connection with this partner.
• The Children's Education Initiative (TCEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing full-tuition funding for two kindergarten students' complete K-8 journey, including tuition, after-school care, lunch, transportation, and all fees. Once enrolled, families do not need to re-apply each year.
• Coloma Outdoor Discovery SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for overnight study trips providing immersive, hands-on learning experiences exploring nature and history.
• Camp TawongaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for overnight study trips providing immersive, hands-on learning experiences exploring nature.
• Positive AdventuresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for overnight study trips providing immersive, hands-on learning experiences.
• NatureBridge at the Marin HeadlandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for overnight study trips providing immersive, hands-on learning experiences exploring nature and science.
• East Bay SPCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for the 'All Together Now' service event, students created toys for animals.
• SOS RichmondminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for the 'All Together Now' service event, students assembled snack bags.
• Women's Daytime Drop-In CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for the 'All Together Now' service event, students created toiletry kits for unhoused community members.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Harker School: Larger, established independent K-12 school in San Jose, CA, with a broader academic portfolio and broader Bay Area reach. Serves as a broader-incumbent reference point for tuition tier and brand positioning.
• Castilleja School: Independent 6-12 girls' school in Palo Alto, CA, with comparable tuition tier, equity programming, and Bay Area reputation. Serves as broader-incumbent reference for families considering Prospect Sierra's middle school as a feeder.

Direct peers

• Children's Day School: Independent K-8 school in San Francisco serving a similarly diverse, mission-driven family base with progressive education and equity-focused programming. Direct competitor for Bay Area families willing to cross between SF and East Bay.
• Park Day School: Independent K-8 progressive school in Oakland, CA, with a similarly integrated curriculum, social-emotional learning emphasis, and commitment to equity. Comparable size and Bay Area East Bay positioning make it a direct peer in mission and market.
• The San Francisco School: Independent pre-K-8 progressive school in San Francisco emphasizing integrated, project-based learning. Comparable in curriculum philosophy and serves overlapping Bay Area families.
• Marin Primary & Middle School: Independent K-8 school in Larkspur, CA, with progressive pedagogy, integrated curriculum, and emphasis on social-emotional learning. Comparable Bay Area private K-8 peer with similar tuition structure and admissions approach.
• The Berkeley School: Private K-8 school in Berkeley, CA, focused on progressive, social-emotional, and academically rigorous education. Operates in the same East Bay admissions market as Prospect Sierra.
• Nueva School: Independent K-12 school in Hillsborough, CA, with nationally recognized progressive, design-thinking-oriented curriculum. Comparable in mission and Bay Area positioning; serves as aspirational peer in innovation.
• Bentley School: Independent K-12 school with campuses in Oakland and Hayward, CA, serving East Bay families with a similar college-preparatory and character-development orientation. Overlaps Prospect Sierra's geographic catchment and tuition tier.
• Charles Armstrong School: Independent K-12 school in Belmont, CA, specializing in language-based learning differences including dyslexia. Most direct peer to Prospect Sierra's The Learning Center (TLC), given overlapping specialization and Bay Area location.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ProspectSierraSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prospect-sierra-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/prospectsierraschool

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Prospect Sierra School